I can’t believe it took me this long to review a Pink Panther movie.
After looking over the site, I realized that I had not reviewed any of the Pink Panther movies. Well than nonsense ends now.
Though my favorite Pink Panther movie is A Shot In The Dark, we will look at the Pink Panther Strikes Again because I had the pleasure of watching it with Dr. H.
In this one, former Chief Inspector Dreyfus (Herbert Lom) is about to be released from a mental hospital– in which he has resided since being driven crazy by Clouseau– the very afternoon of his release hearing he is visited by none other than Clouseau. Clouseau has come to speak on behalf of his former boss because he “is not without influence.” When Clouseau is through `helping,’ his former boss, he is driven from the premises by the relapsed, stark raving mad Dreyfus. And it’s only the first scene of the French Inspector’s antics that, before it is over, include a fantastic bout with Cato, a trip to Oktoberfest, encounters with a dozen hit-men from around the world, a beautiful Russian spy named Olga (Lesley-Anne Down), a surprise Egyptian spy and a one-man assault on a castle.
I know, some of you may be thinking “but J.P., the movie’s plot is totally absurd,” and yes you are correct. Seller’s Clouseau requires a totally absurd plot to perform his laugh out loud style of comedy. There was no end to the ways Sellers could make you laugh; from a subtle expression– an eye averted or perhaps the slight raising of an eyebrow– to the most overt slapstick, he was the master. Physically, practically all he had to do to get a laugh was show up. One of my favorite lines in movie history is when Clouseau is questioning the residents/staff of a manor and he has managed to get a mace stuck on his arm. He swings at bee flying around and smashes a priceless Steinway piano–well its not one any more:
Clouseau: “A beekeeper who has lost his voice, a cook who thinks he is a gardener and a witness to murder . . . Oh yes it is obvious to my trained eye that there is much more going on here than meets the ear . . . (swings a buzzing bee but smashes piano) . . . before you are dismissed Mr. Stutterstutt, I suggest you count your bees, you may find that one of them is missing . . .”
Lady-Witness: “You ruined that piano”
Clouseau: “What is the price of one piano compared to the terrible crime that has been committed here?”
Lady-Witness: “But that is a priceless Steinway!”
Clouseau: “Not any more.”
It may not look that great on paper, but watching Sellers perform it always makes me laugh. I included this scene as one of the clips so enjoy.
The clips chosen are the longest I have put on the site since its creation. I thought it was necessary because to really appreciate the humor you need to watch the entire scene.
J.P.'s I'm Outta Here Movie Thoughts 
dangerousmeredith
October 1, 2010 at 11:14 pm
I reckon the Pink Panther films are brilliant, and this one is maybe my favourite. The first clip you included in your blog is sheer comedic, slapstick genius.
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jpfmovies
October 1, 2010 at 11:27 pm
Which scene–the one I transcribed?
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dangerousmeredith
October 1, 2010 at 11:40 pm
No, the Cato fight (with Dreyfuss’ assasination attempts)
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jpfmovies
October 2, 2010 at 7:36 pm
That is one of the best ambushes Cato has on Sellers.
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Dr H
October 7, 2010 at 3:21 pm
There are more than a couple of forgotten Peter Sellers movies. One is The Party, a hilarious story of a small time bumbling Indian actor, mistakingly invited to a holywood party that he systematically ruins. The Indians were so peeved that they actually banned it in India.
The other one is There is a girl in my soup with Goldie Hawn.
For Seller Afficianados there is also biography by HBO- Sellers brilliantly played by Geoffrey Rush and also co-stars my favourite Charlize Theron. Check them out.
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Dr H
October 7, 2010 at 3:31 pm
Now when I think about it, there was yet another movie where again he played an Indian. The film was the Millionaress with Sophia Loren. So much talent and only 54 yrs old when he died.
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jpfmovies
October 7, 2010 at 5:42 pm
I think you forgot another great one “The Lady Killers”–he was quite young in that one. It is a funny movie.
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dangerousmeredith
October 8, 2010 at 12:15 am
I haven’t seen The Party for years. I must rewatch it. It is good. And I just saw The Lady Killers which was a lot of fun and has a great cast including a very creepy Alec Guiness
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jpfmovies
October 8, 2010 at 12:59 am
Yes and its a young actor so this fools tech under appointment
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dr h
October 8, 2010 at 2:18 pm
I can’t make out your last comment ,JP.
A typo spoiled the line.
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dr h
October 10, 2010 at 4:07 pm
OK guys, time for some serious debate. I am going to throw few of comic actors names. Let us see if we can decide who were the top 5.
Buster Keaton, Charles Chaplin,GENE Wilder, Richard Pryor, Tony Curtis, Bob Hope, Mel Brookes, Jerry Lewis, Dean Martin, Steve Martin, EDDIE MURPHY, Will Ferrell ETC
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dr H
October 14, 2010 at 3:43 pm
add Peter Sellers to the list.
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jpfmovies
October 14, 2010 at 4:23 pm
I would hope so.
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Bonnie
October 23, 2010 at 12:02 pm
JP knows I am too ignorant about movies to weigh in on the five greatest comic actors…but I do want to note that nobody has mentioned what great family films these are. It’s rare nowadays to find a film that adults and children can watch together and that both can enjoy. Yet it CAN be done, as the Pink Panther movies prove — and so do some older Disney flicks like That Darn Cat or Bringing Up Baby. Or even a more recent film like My Cousin Vinnie. Why don’t we have more family films being made today? Instead what we have been treated to is a long line of babysitting films, mostly cartoons, that are intended for parents to use as ways to park the kids while parents do other things.
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dangerousmeredith
October 23, 2010 at 11:27 pm
Good point, Bonnie!
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themovieblog8
November 19, 2011 at 11:56 am
I completely forgot about this one. I saw it a couple of years ago and it was very funny!
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jpfmovies
November 19, 2011 at 5:53 pm
Thanks I think it is the best of his pink panther movies!
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themovieblog8
November 20, 2011 at 11:41 am
Wow. I’ll definitely have to revisit it, then. A Shot in the Dark is my favorite.
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Steve
July 10, 2016 at 7:36 am
Exactly so! I have a link to that entire scene saved, and watch it often. A classic. There is a time and a place for everything, Kato… And this is it!! :)
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jpfmovies
March 20, 2017 at 3:20 pm
Thanks for teh kind words, I am sorry it took me so long to get back to you but we sort of went into a “gestation” period.
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